CRIME & PLACE: PETER MAY & DAVID WILSON’s HEBRIDES

The landscape of the Outer Hebrides, is itself a definitive character in Peter May’s Lewis Trilogy. In his new book Hebrides we accompany him on an odyssey in prose and photography. Travelling as if alongside his protagonist Fin Macleod, he describes the islander life; isolated from the mainland, Protestant north and Catholic south and the importance of the Sabbath and the Gaelic tongue.

Ness, Guga Hunters

The bird-hunters of Sula Sgeir and their rite of passage would inspire The Blackhouse, stories of the orphan ‘homers’ relocated from the mainland became the heart of The Lewis Man; The Chessmen, in turn, depicted the age old antipathy between landowners and islanders. Each memory of his journey is recaptured in specially commissioned, spectacular photographs, as extracts from the trilogy are brought to life.

Peter May

Peter May was born in Glasgow and became an award-winning journalist at the age of twenty one.  He left newspapers for television and created two primetime British drama series for the BBC.  He also co-created and produced the Gaelic drama serial, Machair, which was set on the Isle of Lewis.  After quitting TV in 1996, he wrote The Firemaker, the first of six thrillers set in China, for which he was awarded honorary membership of the Chinese Crime Writers’ Association.  Since then he has written a further crime series, The Enzo Files; a stand-alone thriller, Virtually Dead and his phenomenally best selling Lewis Trilogy.  He is married and lives in France.

This event will see the launch of Peter May’s collaborative book with the photographer David Wilson, Hebrides, which references many of the sites in The Lewis Trilogy.

Peter May’s Wikipedia entry

David Wilson was born in Edinburgh and studied at Edinburgh College of Art.  He had a long career as a production designer in television, working for the BBC for twenty years, before turning freelance in 1994.  As well as working on Peter May’s Gaelic drama series, Machair, for several years, he has lectured in photography – both digital and traditional. He now lives on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis.

His work can be seen at www.hebridesphotographer.co.uk

This event will be Chaired by BAFTA Award winner and former Head of Gaelic at STV, Rhoda Macdonald.